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United States Patent |
5,277,256
|
Bailey
|
January 11, 1994
|
Firefighter's nozzle
Abstract
A fire suppression nozzle device, to be used by firefighters to selectively
and immediately utilize a plurality of different firefighting agents
through the single nozzle when circumstances require, the nozzle including
a housing having a primary conduit wherethrough water at substantially
high pressure and high volume may be emitted, a secondary conduit with a
venturi outlet extending into the primary conduit such that a second
firefighting agent flowing through the secondary conduit will be drawn
into the primary conduit as a result of a venturi effect suction for
mixture with the water passing through the primary conduit and emission
out an adjustable flow tip on a downstream, open end of the primary
conduit, and a third conduit having a fixed emission tip and adapted to
receive a high pressure flow of a third firefighting agent therethrough
and out a fixed emission tip, all of the conduits including flow control
valves to enable facilitated flow adjustment and utilization of a
particular firefighting agent only when desired.
Inventors:
|
Bailey; Dallas J. (8100 SW. 37th Ter., Miami, FL 33155)
|
Appl. No.:
|
941878 |
Filed:
|
September 8, 1992 |
Current U.S. Class: |
169/15; 169/52; 239/416.1; 239/418; 239/427.5 |
Intern'l Class: |
A62C 031/07 |
Field of Search: |
169/14,15,44,52
239/413,416.1,418,427.5
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1362228 | Dec., 1920 | Cleveland | 239/416.
|
2245195 | Jun., 1941 | Hopkins | 239/413.
|
2271800 | Feb., 1942 | Meussdorffer | 239/444.
|
2307014 | Jan., 1943 | Becker et al. | 239/444.
|
2485723 | Oct., 1949 | Fitzgerald | 169/14.
|
3448809 | Jun., 1969 | Lambert et al. | 169/15.
|
4640461 | Feb., 1987 | Williams | 169/15.
|
4729434 | Mar., 1988 | Rohrbach | 169/15.
|
Primary Examiner: Mitchell; David M.
Assistant Examiner: Hoge; Gary C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Malloy & Malloy
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present is a continuation-in-part application to the prior patent
application filed Sep. 27, 1991, and assigned Ser. No. 767,070, abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fire suppression nozzle, comprising:
a) A housing having an upstream end and a downstream end,
b) said housing including a primary water conduit extending therethrough,
c) said primary water conduit being structured and disposed to transmit
water at a substantially high pressure and high volume of at least 30
gallons per minute therethrough,
d) an adjustable float tip on a downstream, open end of said primary
conduit, said flow tip controlling the type of spray emission of water
from said primary conduit,
e) a first, exteriorly operable float control valve in said primary
conduit, said first valve being structured and disposed to regulate the
flow to said primary conduit,
f) said housing further including a secondary conduit, said secondary
conduit extending along said housing from said upstream end of said
housing toward said downstream end thereof,
g) said secondary conduit including a venturi outlet adjacent a downstream
thereof, said venturi outward disposed in fluid communication with an
interior of said primary conduit such that said fluid flowing through said
secondary conduit will pass into said primary conduit, as a result of a
venturi effect suction caused when the water passes through said primary
conduit, for subsequent passage out of said housing through said
adjustable flow tip on said primary conduit,
h) a second exteriorly operable valve in said secondary conduit, said
second valve regulating the flow of fluid through said secondary conduit,
i) said housing including a third conduit, capable of directing a high
pressure flow therethrough, extending along said housing with said primary
conduit from said upstream end towards said downstream end and further
including an emission tip thereon,
j) a third exteriorly operable flow control valve in said third conduit,
said third valve being structured and disposed to regulate fluid flow
through said third conduit,
k) a triple flow hose including a lock head and at least three independent
agent conduits, said lock head being structured and disposed for secure
fluid flow connection at said upstream end of said housing such that each
of said agent conduits is correspondingly connected with a different one
of said primary conduit, said secondary conduit, and said third conduit,
and
l) hook up means at said upstream end of said housing, said hook up means
being structurally adapted to securely receive said triple flow holes
therein.
2. A nozzle device as in claim 1 wherein said first flow control valve
includes a ball type valve having a diametric flow through passageway.
3. A nozzle device as in claim 2 wherein said second flow control valve
includes a ball type valve having a diametric flow through passageway.
4. A nozzle device as in claim 3 wherein said third flow control valve
includes a butterfly type valve.
5. A nozzle device as in claim 4 further including handle means connected
to said first flow control valve, said second flow control valve, and said
third flow control valve such that each of said handle means may
correspondingly facilitate the independent movement of each of said valves
for the selective flow of firefighting agent through said primary conduit,
said secondary conduit, and said third conduit.
6. A nozzle device as in claim 5 wherein said housing includes a nozzle,
gripper handle protruding therefrom, said nozzle handle being structured
and disposed to facilitate said housing to be held and maneuvered during
use.
7. A nozzle device as in claim 1 wherein said triple flow hose includes a
proximal end secured in corresponding triple fluid flow communication with
a multiple agent source.
8. A nozzle device as in claim 7 wherein said proximal end of said triple
hose includes an air inlet adapted to be engaged with a compressed air
source of said multi-agent source such that at least one of said agent
conduits of said triple hose is filled with compressed air until actual
use of one of said agents is needed.
9. A fire suppression nozzle device, comprising:
a housing having an upstream end and a downstream end,
said housing including a primary water conduit extending therethrough, said
primary water conduit being structured and disposed to transmit water at a
substantially high pressure and high volume of at least 50 gallons per
minute therethrough,
an adjustable flow tip on a downstream, open end of said primary conduit,
said flow tip controlling the type of spray emission of water from said
primary conduit,
a first, exteriorly operable flow control valve in said primary conduit,
said first valve being structured and disposed to regulate the flow
through said primary conduit between a maximum flow position and a no flow
position,
said housing further including a secondary conduit, said secondary conduit
extending parallel with said primary conduit from said upstream end of
said housing,
said secondary conduit including a venturi outlet at a downstream end
thereof, said venturi outlet extending into said primary conduit such that
fluid flowing through said secondary conduit will pass into said primary
conduit, as a result of a venturi effect suction caused when the water
passes through said primary conduit, for subsequent passage out of said
housing through said adjustable flow tip on said primary conduit,
a second exteriorly operable valve in said secondary conduit, said second
valve regulating the flow of fluid through said secondary conduit between
no flow and maximum flow,
said housing including a third conduit, capable of directing a high
pressure flow therethrough, extending substantially parallel with said
primary conduit,
said third conduit having a fixed emission tip structured and disposed to
be independently operable,
a third exteriorly operable flow control valve in said third conduit, said
third valve being structured and disposed to allow concentrated fluid
bursts, constant flow, or zero flow through said fixed emission tip of
said third conduit,
hook up means at said upstream end of said housing, said hook up means
being structured and disposed to securely receive a triple flow hose, and
said trip flow hose including a lock head and at least three independent
agent conduits, said lock head being structured and disposed for secure
fluid flow connection at said upstream end of said housing such that each
of said agent conduits is correspondingly connected with said primary
conduit, said secondary conduit, and said third conduit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fire suppression nozzle device which can
receive three independent firefighting agents therethrough for selective
use by a firefighter, thereby providing a firefighter with the ability to
utilize the firefighting agent which is most effective for a particular
circumstance immediately and through the single nozzle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Firefighters are highly trained and educated in their field, and are
generally capable of distinguishing between types of fires and assessing
the emergency circumstance independently, on a moment's notice. With the
many technological advances involved in firefighting, firefighters now
have available a variety of firefighting agents besides water. The
preferred firefighting agents, other than water, include fire suppression
foam (aqueous forming foam as it is known in the trade AFFF, or the new
type of foam material known as Class "A"), and compressed Halon gas or
other fire suppressant gas. Halon is an agent which chemically interferes
with the combustion process of a fire, thus breaking up its complex
chemical reaction, and although it is highly effective, is not readily
used as a result of its high cost. Also, fire suppression foam is
considerably more expensive than water and usually requires a substantial
quantity to "drown" a fire.
Due to the increased expense of utilizing foam or Halon, these firefighting
agents are generally available in only specific circumstances and usually
require special rigs and prior planning to use. Even though firefighters
would be capable of making the necessary decisions regarding when to use
one of the special firefighting agents, such as in an eminent backdraft or
flash-over condition which could be neutralized utilizing a quick burst of
Halon, firefighters do not have that option because the special agents
have not been prepared or are not immediately available in most
circumstances. Further, due to water shortages in many cities, and a
desire to cause minimal water damage when putting out a fire, the benefits
of utilizing small amounts of a special firefighting agent immediately to
stop a fire before it spreads, substantially decrease the time required to
put out a fire, or to conserve substantial quantities of water, are being
seen to outweigh the added cost. Additionally, because a large percentage
of fire department calls involve rescue situations and not full-blown
fires, the need for large, specifically adapted fire trucks with
substantial water reservoirs would be minimized by enabling the use of
smaller, more efficient, combination rescue and firefighting vehicles,
which could have quicker response times, do not require such a large
payload of firefighting agents as a result of the availability of smaller
quantities of a variety of more effective firefighting agents which could
be used to suit a particular situation, and require smaller crews to
provide equivalent firefighting potential.
For the previously stated reasons, it would be highly beneficial to have a
firefighting nozzle which could be interconnected with multiple
firefighting agent sources, such as water, fire suppression foam, and
Halon, so as to make each of the firefighting agents immediately and
readily available, while allowing the firefighter's judgment to dictate
the immediate and actual necessities of a particular emergency
circumstance. Presently known in the art, are numerous types of
firefighting nozzles adapted to improve the use of water for firefighting
circumstances. If firefighting agents in addition to water are needed,
independent agent dispensing means must be specially brought to the needed
location, for separate independent use, and often a great deal of planning
and preparation is needed to use these special firefighting agents.
Accordingly, despite the numerous advances in the firefighting art, a
firefighting nozzle which can enable multiple firefighting agents to be
immediately available is still required. The present invention is designed
precisely to meet those needs by receiving three independent firefighting
agent sources for fluid flow connection therewith, and while making the
favorite firefighting agent, namely water, the central focus, also
provides the availability of a Halon burst and a suppression foam spray by
merely opening a corresponding valve.
Additionally in the prior art, fertilizer dispenser nozzles, such as that
disclosed in the patent to Chan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,105, have been
structured to spray multiple fluids. The dispenser of Chan, however, is
not adapted to receive high pressure water flows, and includes connection
means to secure it to only a single fluid source at its upstream end,
namely a water hose. The fertilizer, which is to be dispensed with the
water, is contained within a reservoir at the nozzle itself, and is not
adapted to spray with any force unless mixed with the water. Further, as
is evidenced by the presence of a water inlet 24 which leads to the
fertilizer reservoir, the fertilizer, which is the only fluid other than
water which may be dispensed by the nozzle at any given time, must be
mixed with water if it is to flow from the reservoir. Also, the limited
supply of fertilizer available in the reservoir must be prepared prior to
use of the hose, as it may not be independently introduced through the
upstream and of the nozzle when it is actually required. As a result, such
a fertilizer dispenser could not meet the needs of a firefighting nozzle
which must spray multiple firefighting agents independently receives three
independent supplies of the firefighting agents when needed for immediate
use, and can emit a substantially high pressure flow required for
firefighting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards a fire suppression nozzle device
adapted to enable firefighters to selectively, and immediately utilize
one, or a combination of a variety of firefighting agents to meet the
actual needs of an emergency firefighting situation. The nozzle device
includes a primarily a housing having an upstream end and a downstream
end. Centrally disposed along the housing is a primary water conduit which
extends therethrough. This water conduit is structured and disposed to
transmit water at a substantially high pressure and high volume of at
least 50 gallons per minute therethrough, so as to be effective for
firefighting situations. Disposed on a downstream, open end of the primary
conduit is an adjustable flow tip. The flow tip is adapted to control the
type of spray emission of water which exits the primary conduit, thereby
enabling a concentrated flow or a softer spray flow to be emitted.
Disposed within the primary conduit is a first, exteriorly operable flow
control valve. This first valve is adapted to enable a user to regulate
the flow of water through the primary conduit between a maximum flow
position and a no-flow position. Further disposed within the housing is a
secondary conduit which extends parallel with the primary conduit from the
upstream end of the housing. Included at a downstream end of the secondary
conduit is a venturi outlet. This venturi outlet is curved to extend into
the primary conduit such that fluid flowing through the secondary conduit
will pass into the primary conduit as a result of a venturi effect
suction. Accordingly, when water passes through the primary conduit, fluid
within the secondary conduit will be sucked into the primary conduit for
subsequent passage out of the housing through the adjustable flow tip on
the primary conduit. Disposed within the secondary conduit is a second
exteriorly operable flow control valve. This second valve is adapted to
control the flow of fluid through the secondary conduit between no flow
and maximum flow. Additionally included within the housing is a third
conduit. This third conduit, which extends substantially parallel with the
primary conduit, from the upstream end of the housing, is adapted to
direct a high pressure flow therethrough, and includes a fixed emission
tip which is independently operable, allowing a high pressure flow to exit
through the fixed emission tip whether the primary conduit is active with
a water flow or not. Disposed within the third conduit is a third
exteriorly operable flow control valve. This third valve is adapted to
allow concentrated fluid bursts, constant flow, or zero flow through the
fixed emission tip of the third conduit. At the upstream end of the
housing are hook up means. These hook up means are adapted to securely
receive at least three firefighting agent sources. Once received within
the hook up means, the three firefighting agent sources are connected in
secure, corresponding, fluid flow communication with open upstream ends of
the primary conduit, the secondary conduit, and the third conduit.
It is an object of this invention to provide a firefighter's nozzle which
is capable of delivering selectively, three different types of
firefighting agents to quickly and efficiently extinguish a wide variety
of types of fires.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a firefighter's
nozzle which can receive three independent extinguishing agents under high
pressure for selective, immediate disbursement.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a firefighter's
nozzle which enable a firefighter to make immediate decisions as to the
use of a preferred firefighting agent necessary for a particular
situation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a firefighter's
nozzle which can be incorporated as part of a quick response firefighting
unit which has the capability of selectively utilizing multiple fire
disbursement mediums.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,
reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in
combination with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the firefighting nozzle of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an upstream view of the firefighting nozzle of the present
invention along line 2'--2' of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an unattached triple flow hose to be connected to
the firefighting nozzle of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the triple flow hose and firefighting agent
source to be used with the firefighting nozzle of the present invention.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of
the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings, the present invention is directed towards a fire
suppression nozzle device, generally indicated as 11. The nozzle device 11
primarily includes a sturdy housing 10 having a downstream end 1 and an
upstream end 2. Included within the housing are three separate conduits
20, 30, and 40. The primary conduit 20 is centrally disposed within the
housing 10 and is adapted to receive high volume and high pressure water
flow therethrough. When used in firefighting, the water flows at a rate of
at least 50 to 100 gallons per minute or more, and accordingly, the
primary conduit 20 is large and sturdy enough to emit such a flow. Located
at a downstream end of the primary conduit 20 is an adjustable flow tip
22. This adjustable flow tip 22 enables a firefighter utilizing the nozzle
11 to regulate the type of spray emission coming from the downstream end
of the primary conduit 20 in accordance with the particular needs of a
particular firefighting situation. Included within the primary conduit 20,
near the upstream end 2 of the housing 10, is a first flow control valve
24. This first flow control valve 24 is preferably a ball-type valve
having a diametric flow through passageway such that the flow of water
through the primary conduit 20 may be varied anywhere between a completely
open maximum flow or a closed zero flow, depending on the needs of the
particular situation. So as to enable the firefighter to selectively
adjust the water flow, and/or completely shut it off, the first control
valve 24 is exteriorly operable by means of a handle 26. The handle 26 is
sufficiently elongate so as to enable a firefighter to easily regulate
water flow using only a single hand, while also using that same hand to
maintain a secure hold on the nozzle 11.
Further, the housing 10 includes a secondary conduit 40. This secondary
conduit 40 which extends from the upstream end 2 of the housing 10 in
substantially parallel relation with the primary conduit 20 and includes
an angled venturi outlet portion 42 which extends through an opening 28 in
the primary conduit 20 such that the flow passing through the secondary
conduit 40 is directed into the primary conduit 20. Included within the
secondary conduit 40 is a second flow control valve 44, preferably a
ball-type valve having a diametric flow through passageway, which is
exteriorly operable by means of a handle 45 between a no-flow and a
maximum flow position. This secondary conduit 40 is primarily adapted to
receive the flow of AFFF or Class "A" foam. As a result of the positioning
of the venturi outlet 42 within the primary conduit 20, the high pressure
flow of water through the primary conduit in essence draws the foam from
the secondary conduit 40 with it, when the secondary conduit 40 is open to
allow the flow of foam therethrough. Accordingly, the proper mixture of
foam and water may be achieved on a moment's notice so as to enable a
firefighter in the midst of a fire to be able to selectively utilize the
foam when it is necessitated for a particular hazard.
Additionally, the housing 10 includes a third conduit 30, also capable of
directing a high pressure flow therethrough. This third conduit 30, in the
preferred embodiment, is adapted to direct Halon gas out a fixed emission
tip 31 at the downstream end 1 of the housing 10. Positioned within the
third conduit 30 is a third flow control valve 32, which in the preferred
embodiment is a butterfly valve. This third flow control valve 32, which
is exteriorly operable by means of a handle 34, is adapted to regulate the
flow of gas through the third conduit 30 from zero flow to maximum flow.
As a result of the high cost of Halon or other gas extinguishing agents
such as CO.sub.2 as well as the effectiveness of small quantities of the
gas, the third valve 32 may be structured to enable quick bursts of the
gas to be emitted, thereby making this highly effective firefighting
medium useable upon a moment's notice when a crucial situation arises.
Extending substantially perpendicularly from the housing 10 is a nozzle
gripper handle 50. This nozzle gripper handle 50 is disposed to enable a
firefighter to maintain a secure hold of the nozzle 11 with one hand,
while their other hand may be used to adjust any of the handles 26, 34, or
45, as needed in a particular situation. Also, as a result of the high
pressure flow which is being emitted from the nozzle 11, a secure hold of
the nozzle 11 which will maintain the firefighter's grip free from
accidental activation of an additional firefighting agent, is highly
beneficial.
Disposed at the upstream end 2 of the housing 10 are hook up means 60.
These hook up means 60 will preferably include a standard-type couple 62,
which in the preferred embodiment includes a generally oval shape. As
shown in FIG. 2, the primary conduit 20, secondary conduit 40, and third
conduit 30, are open and adapted to receive fluid therein from this
upstream end 2 of the housing 10. The couple 62, which may receive three
independent and separate firefighting agent sources therein for connection
with the conduits 20, 30, and 40, is preferably adapted to hook up with a
lock head of a specially adapted triple flow hose 70. As detailed in FIGS.
3 and 4, the triple flow hose 70 includes three independent agent conduits
71, 72, and 73 secured within an outer sleeve 75 so as to form a single
triple flow hose 70. The lock head of the triple flow hose 70, which is
also generally oval in shape, includes a mating couple 64 at its distal
end which is adapted for insertion, and locking engagement within the
couple 62 of the housing 10. In order to assure a secure and tight fit,
the hose couple 64 includes a protruding central portion 66, wherethrough
the central agent conduit 72 may be in fluid flow communication with the
primary conduit 20, adapted to be inserted into the couple 62 on the
housing 10 such that 90.degree. lock turn may secure the connection and
the outer agent conduits 73 and 71 may be correspondingly positioned in
fluid flow communication with the secondary conduit 40 and third conduit
30. Gaskets included on the couples 62 and 64 would assure a tight seal,
and indicia 67 on an exterior surface of the couples 62 and 64 (see FIG.
1) are positioned to clearly indicate when the couples 62 and 64 have been
turned to the fully locked, fluid flow connected position. Similarly, a
proximal end 77 of the hose 70 is adapted to be connected with a multiple
firefighting unit 80, as best seen in FIG. 4. In the preferred embodiment,
the multiple firefighting unit 80 is in the form of a fire rescue-type
truck, which is substantially smaller than standard firefighting
tanker-type vehicles so as to enable it to provide quick responses, and
function as both a firefighting unit and as a rescue unit. Contained
within the multiple firefighting unit 80 are at least three independent
agent tanks 82, 84, and 86. Each of these tanks 82, 84, and 86 is adapted
to retain a quantity of a single firefighting agent, such as foam, water,
and Halon gas. Each of the tanks 82, 84, and 86 is connected in fluid flow
communication with the proximal end 77 of the triple hose 70, such that
the corresponding firefighting agent will pass into the corresponding
agent conduit 71, 72, and 73, of the hose 70. Also included at the
proximal end 77 of the hose 70 is an air inlet 78. The air inlet 78 is
connected with a compressed air source 88 and is adapted to allow the flow
of air to enter the conduits 71 and 73 of the hose 70 so as to
substantially fill them with air. Preferably, only the outer conduits 71
and 73 will be filled, since the central conduit 72 wherethrough water is
passed will almost always be active. Through the air inlet 78, the agent
conduits 71 and 73 are filled with air after connection. Since the flow
control valves 32 and 44 of the third conduit 30 and secondary conduit 40
will initially be closed, air will pass into the agent conduits 71 and 73
only until they are full. Once filled with air, the outer agent conduits
71 and 73 will remain filled until a firefighter calls for a particular
agent through that conduit, resulting in the immediate emission of the air
through the nozzle 11, and causing a sudden pressure drop within the agent
conduit 71. This sudden pressure drop is detected by a corresponding
pressure sensitive solenoid 90 which regulates the flow from each of the
agent tanks 82, 84, and 86. Upon detection of the sudden pressure drop,
the solenoid valve 90 in the corresponding conduit opens allowing the
immediate and rapid flow of the desired agent to the nozzle 11. By not
having the hose 70 immediately filled with the more expensive firefighting
agents such as foam or Halon gas, the quantity which would be held by the
hose 70 will not be wasted when disconnecting the hose, but as a result of
the air pressure and sudden drop thereof when an agent is needed, the
agent will be rapidly sucked to the nozzle 11 for immediate use.
Now that the invention has been described,
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